300WM 230 grain Hybrid Load Work

[John from MN]

Started trying to find a 230 grain load for my 300WM today.

Rifle is a Rem 700 with a 28 inch 10 twist Brux M40 countour barrel fed by Accuracy International mags. Using H1000, neckturned and annealed RP brass with CCI 200 primers. Bullets seated to mag length, which amounts to .030 jump in this rifle.

Fired one round of each of the following charges at a 100yd target:

72 grains for 2811 fps

72.3 grains for 2861 fps

72.6 grains for 2852 fps

72.9 grains for 2867 fps

73.2 grains for 2858 fps

73.5 grains for 2863fps with a faint ejector swipe and a light click on extraction

73.8 grains for 2898 fps with a faint ejector swipe and a light click on extraction

74.1 grain for 2902 fps with a sharp increase in felt recoil as well as an ejector swipe. I STOPPED THERE.

None of the above loads showed flattened primers despite some of them obviously being overpressure.

The 72.3 - 74.1 grain charges made a group at 100 yds that measured roughly .3 vertical by .75 horizontal. The 72 grain charge was about a half inch lower than the others and obviously in a different node.

Considering that I do well to hold half moa off of a bipod after a day at the salt mine, I think these bullets show promise in this rifle.

It goes without saying, but these loads may be dangerous in a different gun. More to come.

 

[JamesnTN]

I hope you have better luck with them than I did. One day they shoot 1/2" or less at 300 yards and the next day they were 2"+ at 300. Also not sure what chronograph you're using but those velocities seem high. My barrel is 30" long and 73.0 grains of H1000 produced velocities of 2804 fps. Using a 230 grain bullet. These were shot over a magneto speed. I wish I could get to 2900 fps but I just can't get there in mine.

 

[xdeano]

Good stuff. Excellent velocities.
Xdeano

 

[John from MN]

I hope you have better luck with them than I did. One day they shoot 1/2" or less at 300 yards and the next day they were 2"+ at 300. Also not sure what chronograph you're using but those velocities seem high. My barrel is 30" long and 73.0 grains of H1000 produced velocities of 2804 fps. Using a 230 grain bullet. These were shot over a magneto speed. I wish I could get to 2900 fps but I just can't get there in mine.

James,

When I have the opportunity to test at long range, I'll work it backwards to verify/disprove the above numbers and I'll post it up. Slug season is starting here shortly and I'm stuck with 100 yds for the next couple weeks.

If I can find a load in the 2800 to 2850 range I'll be entirely satisfied. This rifle does not have a brake. I stayed loose during testing and could actually feel the recoil compressing my ribcage on the right side of my back. It was a peculiar sensation. The last round moved my right side shoulder blade enough that it touched something( a rib, I think) it is most certainly NOT supposed to come into contact with.

As for the velocity difference between my rifle and yours, I'm not sure what to tell you. I built the gun to run the 200 grain class of bullets through a roughly 3.6 inch mag. I can jam the 208 Amax and the 200 grain Hybrids and stay within mag length. I can't give you the numbers off the top of my head, but looking up a print of PTG's 300 WM Tac Match reamer may yield some answers. It's possible that my freebore is shorter than yours, which would raise pressures.

 

[xdeano]

That doesn't sound particularly fun if you ask me. You need one of those things that those hitman use in the movies, I think they screw on the end... Makes it go pew. pew. Only kidding. You are a tougher sob then I am, I can't take those kinds of hits.

Deano

 

[Joe Salt]

You might want to try some IMR-7828 SSC you will be amazed in the speed you can get out of the 230 OTM but use Fed. 215 primers.

Joe Salt

 

[John from MN]

That doesn't sound particularly fun if you ask me. You need one of those things that those hitman use in the movies, I think they screw on the end... Makes it go pew. pew. Only kidding. You are a tougher sob then I am, I can't take those kinds of hits.

Deano

I'd still be shooting the 200's in ignorant bliss if someone hadn't decided they needed a 338NM...... Just sayin.

Joe, thanks for adding some useful info to the thread.

 

[nastynatesfish]

Maybe interested in retumbo if you have some to try. My buddy shoots It only in his savage BAS with 230s

 

[John from MN]

Loaded 10 rnds at 72.5 grains this morning. Shot a 10 shot group with 9 rounds going right at a half inch and a lone shot that went high and left and opened it up to .7 or so. May have been inconsistent form or it may have been the load, I'm not sure.

I'll load 20 more at 72.5 and wait until I can stretch things out a bit.

Retumbo would probably be a better match for the 230's, but it's hard to find around here at the moment. Got a fair supply of H1000, so I'm gonna give it a whirl with that first.

 

[xdeano]

Better load 30. If you can take 20, then you can take a couple more. Hahaha

Deano

 

[John from MN]

Better load 30. If you can take 20, then you can take a couple more. Hahaha

Deano

I'll load 30 and you can shoot the last 10. Sound good???? Laffin..

Seriously though, it doesn't really hurt as long as I stay loose and let my body spread out the force. I'm just not accustomed to having a gun move me around like that. The recoil goes deep, it doesn't just hammer my shoulder. Fired a ton of 1 ounce slugs in a light 12 ga from standing, but prone changes things. I'm sure I'll get used to it.

 

[xdeano]

Ive shot my friends 300rum quite a bit and i know what youre saying about the recoil. What ive noticed in difference is the slightly sharper recoil impulse over the 338. It sure isnt like shooting a small 6mm thats for sure.

Deano